Online information source for semiconductor professionals

As a prelude to fourth-quarter 2008 financial results due this week, AMD has said it will write down the worth of its graphics chip division by US$622 million. According to Reuters, the writeoffs, which AMD calls ARCs (acquisition related and integration charges) from the ATI purchase in 2006, now total US$3.17 billion. Read more >>

In its preliminary fourth quarter 2008 result and first quarter 2009 projections, Cymer, Inc. has announced that is has taken on board measures to cut costs at the company. Included in these measures is the planned cut of 10% of the company’s staff, or approximately 100 people. The company aims to decrease its costs by $50 to $55 million annually through implementation of these measures. Read more >>

Japan's Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. has decided to cut 1,200 jobs as it sees huge losses in its chip business, according to Reuters. Executive Vice President Koichi Maeda told reporters at a news briefing in Japan that it will axe 600 of its chip workforce (approximately 6% of total) and 600 contract workers at chip operations both in Japan and overseas. Sanyo has blamed declining sales, increased costs in operations and instability in the yen for the need to cut jobs. Read more >>

SMSC has announced a global reduction of between 5 and 10% of its workforce in a cost reduction effort. The company has been implementing various cost-cutting measures recently that include reductions in travel, discretionary spending, compensation expenses and reduced material purchases. SMSC has also introduced a voluntary retirement incentive for most employees over the age of 55 years. Read more >>

In a move designed to cut spending costs, Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd. has announced that it is to axe approximately 230 jobs from its global workforce – around 6% of the company’s total staff. The job cuts will result in charges of $6 to $8 million, mainly in cash, the majority of which will be recorded in financial results for 1Q09, with the remainder listed in reports for 2Q09. Read more >>

ASM International is reducing its Dutch based workforce by approximately 200 as it shifts more of its semiconductor equipment manufacturing to its facility in Singapore in an effort to reduce costs and improve product margins in its front-end division. Approximately 350 jobs will remain in Europe working assigned to R&D and service and support activities. The transfer of operations is to be undertaken over the next 12 months. Read more >>

In a sweeping round of cost cutting measures, On Semiconductor will reduce its headcount by approximately 10%, which equates to approximately 1,500 job losses. Four fabs will be closed permanently as well as shutdowns of others for extended periods. Read more >>

Asyst Technologies is undertaking further restructuring to lower its break-even point as the company continues to make losses. The company is to reduce its global workforce by approximately 15%, or approximately 150 positions. Read more >>

MKS Instruments has guided fourth quarter revenues lower as demand for semiconductor capital equipment continues to decline. The critical components company expects to lower operating levels via cost saving measures that include a workforce reduction of 10% or approximately 292 positions. The reductions took place in both the third and fourth quarters of 2008, the company said. Read more >>

With the current economic climate continuing to have a major effect on companies in the semiconductor industry, Air Products has announced that it is to cut 7% of its global workforce, or approximately 1,300 positions. While it is not yet clear whether the job cuts will be made within the semiconductor industry, it seems that a fall-off in demand for semiconductors and liquid crystal displays has had a negative impact on the company’s electronics division. Read more >>